The government’s 2025 spring statement has come under fire from the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, which warns that the Chancellor’s plans risk undermining business productivity and job creation by failing to address the real workplace challenges faced by employers. While the Chancellor announced increased funding for defence and infrastructure, CIPD […]
Office for National Statistics (ONS) data suggests more than a third (36%) of all small and medium-sized enterprises across the country engage in innovative activities. Despite this, fewer than 6% appear to submit R&D tax claims. This means businesses that meet the strict R&D tax qualifying conditions and criteria could potentially be missing out on […]
Uber has announced the nationwide expansion of its pioneering childcare support scheme, offering more than 100,000 drivers across the UK access to free, flexible childcare through a partnership with on-demand childcare platform Bubble. The move follows a successful pilot launched in 2023, which provided 1,000 drivers with a total of 10,000 hours of fully funded […]
A growing consumer backlash against Amazon’s perceived political affiliations could see UK shoppers joining their US counterparts in boycotting the retail giant, potentially costing it up to £47 million in lost sales, according to delivery expert Parcelhero. In the US, consumer activism is on the rise, with 9% of Amazon shoppers last week planning to […]
London’s black cab industry is at risk of disappearing entirely by 2045 if current trends continue, according to a new report by Centre for London. The research highlights a dramatic decline in the number of taxis on the capital’s roads and warns that urgent intervention is needed from the government, the Mayor of London, and […]
A new study has revealed growing dissatisfaction with workplace policies and financial support for parents, with many employees feeling let down by both their employers and government schemes. The Beyond the Birth Rate report by Fertility Family highlights the impact of employment conditions on family planning, as the UK birth rate has fallen by 26.9% […]
British Airways has long been the target of customer ire—complaints about service standards, outdated technology and, most recently, contentious changes to its loyalty programme are far from rare. Yet the carrier, part of the FTSE 100-listed International Airlines Group (IAG), is on course to announce a significant upswing in its fortunes next month. Financial analysts […]
Large firms are once again pouring resources into cutting-edge product and service development, according to Frazer Bennett, global head of innovation at PA Consulting. After two years of focusing on cost control, many of the company’s corporate clients are re-engaging with projects designed to fuel growth, Bennett told Business Matters. “Our pipeline for work in […]
In a setback for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s automotive venture, Ineos Automotive has issued a recall for 7,000 Grenadier SUVs in the United States after reports that doors opened unexpectedly while driving. According to filings with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the affected vehicles were assembled with insufficient grease on door-lock components, leading to […]
Companies employing staff on the National Living Wage (NLW) are braced for cost increases exceeding £2,100 per employee from April 2025, according to leading tax, audit and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg. The surge follows simultaneous hikes in the NLW and National Insurance Contributions (NIC). Matt Crawford, a partner at Blick Rothenberg, says that with […]